Cavs get routed in Game 4; Pacers one game away from ECF

The Cleveland Cavaliers, the number one seed in the East, are on the brink of elimination after the fourth-seeded Pacers routed them 129-109 on Sunday night in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinals series.

The Pacers lead the series 3-1, and Game 5 is Tuesday in Cleveland.

As the Cavs did in Game 3, Indiana led from start to finish. The Pacers led by as many as 41 points in the first half, and their largest lead of the game was 44 points. Indiana led 80-39 at halftime.

To make matters worse, Donovan Mitchell(ankle) did not play in the second half, so who knows if he’ll be healthy for Game 5. 

This game was physical, and there was a little dustup in the first quarter between De’Andre Hunter and Bennedict Mathurin, which led to Mathurin being assessed a Flagrant two foul and an automatic ejection. Mathurin would hit Hunter in the upper stomach area, and Hunter would shove Mathurin to the ground.  Hunter and Myles Turner were given technicals. Indiana led 22-10 when Mathurin was ejected, and they would outscore the Cavs 58-29 the rest of the first half. 

Indiana had seven players in double figures as Pascal Siakam led the way with 21 points, and Turner and Obi Toppin had 20 apiece.

Darius Garland led the Cavs with 21 points.

Bottom Line:

The Cavs no-showed in Game 4, and if Mitchell is not right, this series is over. You knew the Pacers would have a lot of energy in Game 4, but you thought the Cavs would match it, but they didn’t.

Now, Cleveland could get sent home again in the second round. Winning 64 games is excellent, and having the Coach of the Year is fantastic, but none of those things matter if you don’t advance, and if they don’t advance, all of Cleveland will point to Game 2. The Cavs, without Hunter, Evan Mobley, and Garland, had the game won, but they fell apart late, and the Pacers stole the game. That game changed the series.